Instructor Training Outline

Bestway Driver Training has been offering our unique patient, learner-centred style of instruction to the general public with great success for over 22 years. Eventually we became an Instructor Training Facility and have been training others in the field to use our confidence building methods to train defensive drivers. If working in a field where you really can make a difference strikes something in you, then driver training may be a good career choice for you. 

Below is information for you about our course:

  1. Requirements for the Driver Instructor License Course involves pre-approval from ICBC's Driver Training & Assessment Standards Unit in Victoria. Contact them at 1-866-339-0363 to order your information package.
  2. Clean Driving Record with minimum of 3 years driving experience.
  3. A current Driver's Abstract with no more than a specified number of points during the previous two years.
  4. You must have pre-approval from ICBC Driver Training & Assessment Standards Unit by having a Medical check done and have the appropriate forms filled out by your family doctor and forwarded to them These forms are available by calling the ICBC DT & ASS at the number listed above.
  5. You must have pre-approval from ICBC Driver Training & Assessment Standards Unit by having a Criminal Record Check completed by your local community police and an original copy provided to ICBC DT&ASS There are some restrictions in this area. Forms will be sent to you by ICBC.
  6. Once you have received pre-approval from ICBC you may register for one of our upcoming programs.
  7. The course has both in-class theory and in-car practical modules for a total of 80 hours of training. You must complete the required number of hours as well as be successful with the assessment portions of the course.
  8. Assessments are done on four different aspects of your training. The first three are a written knowledge test, a presentation practicum on traffic signs, lights and road markings, and on-road practical teaching demonstrations.

Driving Assessment & Analysis:
 
The fourth assessment however, is done much earlier in the course to ensure that you are learning the correct habits right from the start of your training. The on-road driving assessment is a highly critical evaluation of an instructor trainee's abilities to drive. It summarizes the student's areas of weakness and allows the student an unbiased review of driving errors. Although a student may be a good driver under normal conditions, during testing most people display errors in the areas where their skills are somewhat deficient. This assessment will give the student the opportunity to improve upon these skills and to better understand what they, as future driving instructors will be expected to observe in their own students when teaching and evaluating them. Practice or lessons will be recommended to a student dependent upon the severity of the deficit in a particular area.
When you have completed the 40 minute evaluation you will be given a private debriefing with recommendations and suggestions from the assessment officer. You will also receive a photocopy of your results. It is important that you maintain excellent defensive habits if you are going to impart these same habits to your students in the car. Take the evaluation as an opportunity to improve your personal driving skills. You are encouraged to analyze the results with an open mind and be prepared to change some well entrenched bad habits if necessary. If you do this you will be much better equipped to lead your own students down the Defensive Driving path.

Defensive Driving:

You will learn about the various methods that professional driver instructors teach their students. We will cover The Five Keys of the Smith System, SIPDE, (Scan, Identify, Predict, Determine, Execute), See-Think-Do, Proactive VS Reactive Driving, etc. By Graduation Day you will be very comfortable and well versed in the concepts that make up Defensive Driving. This part of the course is perhaps the most important part of your training. By being comfortable with it yourself, you will be able to pass on the concepts of safe driving to your students with ease. You will be encouraged to practice the techniques that you will learn each time you get into a vehicle. Pay attention to what happens on the road. Real life is one of the best teachers there is. All too often we don't look closer to see what makes it tick. Get curious.

Coaching and Instructional Skills:

Teaching using positive re-enforcement, feedback, and a learner centered instructional style will set you apart from other's in the driver training field. Ways to determine individual learning styles or how a person learns best will be outlined for you. The course explores the concepts of subconscious driving and habitual learning. . And you will become fluent with the general terminology and language of our industry.

Activities, Lessons and Learning Strategies learned throughout the course:

You will be guided through the Principles of Instruction and given teaching tools to take away with you. We believe that the more varied the learning experiences are, the better the opportunity we can create for learning. To facilitate this we model a variety of Instructional methods that you can put into practice with your own students in the future.

The techniques and strategies include the following methods:

Lecture, Interactive Activities, Discussion Groups, Presentations, Guest Speakers, Demonstrations, Practical hands - on training, Role Play, Observation, Videos, Study, Written work, Evaluations, and Practicum Assessments.

You will be encouraged to develop lesson plans, learn time management techniques, cultivate improved communication and coaching skills and to familiarize yourself with assessment and evaluation skills such as questioning and feedback. The Class will discuss ways to build a supportive learning atmosphere and you will hear ways to deal with a variety of people and situations. We will gladly share our wisdom and experiences with you.

You will gain a thorough understanding of MVA Regulations, Division 27, BC Driver Licensing Laws, Traffic Law, Signs and Signals, and BC's Licensing requirements. Our experts will give you a very thorough understanding of the Graduated License Program implemented by ICBC. You can exercise your public speaking skills when you present your Road Sign Practicum.
 
We use role-playing to attain hands on experience in a variety of situations. Our instructors will lead you through simulated lessons and train you in a variety of in-car instructional techniques. They will also prepare you for the unthinkable: Taking control, maintaining verbal control, or how to be ready for anything. You will become adept at practicing and facilitating running commentary, and monologue driving. On the road and in the classroom, our instructors help you to develop and gain experience teaching hazard perception, hazard management and hazard avoidance. These skills will assist you in preparing for your On-road Instructional practicum.

We offer assistance and advice on finding a job as an instructor. We have many contacts within our industry and see many Bestway Instructor Training Graduates working in the driver training field here in BC. For those of you who are planning to open your own driving school we offer business setup counseling, course curriculums, driver training aids, text books and materials.
Upon completion of the course, all trainees will be issued a ‘Driver Training Instructor Course Completion Certificate,' to be submitted to ICBC. If all other information is in order and acceptable, ICBC will issue a ‘Driver Training Instructor's License' in the name of the applicant